Salt is one of those things
that is very significant in so many ways. Here we have an echo of Jesus saying
that his followers are to be like salt, bringing flavour to the world (Matthew
5:13). Here there is a comment about salt losing its saltiness. It then loses
its ability to fulfil its main purpose which is to season. The implication is
that we are to make a real difference to the contexts in which we are set in
just the same way as salt transforms the taste of food.
This is linked to a comment
about peace, our being at peace with one another being what we might hope for
in a society that comes even remotely near to reflecting the Kingdom of God.
This little section is not
the easiest part of Mark’s writing to understand, but we can, at least, see
both salt and peace as measures of how things should be, and that makes particular
sense when we identify salt as in indicator of purity. As William Barclay (Daily Study Bible – The Gospel of Mark) points out – “The ancients declared that
there was nothing in the world purer than salt because it came from the two
purest things, the sun and the sea.” Barclay goes on to suggest that we may
see this passage as saying something like – “Be purified from selfishness
and self-seeking, from bitterness and anger and grudge-bearing. Be cleansed
from irritation and moodiness and self-centredness, and then, and then only,
you will be able to live in peace.” I wonder what kind of ‘flavour’ we add
to the circles in which we move. I wonder to what extent we are peacemakers.
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